Question

A patient experiences dizziness and shortness of breath for several days. During cardiac monitoring in the emergency department (ED), the nurse obtains the following electrocardiographic (ECG) tracing.

The nurse interprets this cardiac rhythm as

a. sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).

b. junctional escape rhythm.

c. third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block.

d. sinus rhythm with premature atrial contractions (PACs).

Answer 1

The correct interpretation of the patient’s electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing exhibiting a lack of correlation between P waves and QRS complexes is a third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block.

Step-by-step explanation:

When interpreting an electrocardiogram (ECG), a third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block is recognized by the lack of correlation between the atrial activity (P wave) and ventricular activity (QRS complex). In this type of block, also known as a complete block, impulses from the sinoatrial (SA) node do not reach the ventricles through the AV node, resulting in the two chambers beating independently. For the patient experiencing dizziness and shortness of breath with their ECG tracing indicating a lack of correlation between P waves and QRS complexes, the correct interpretation of their cardiac rhythm would be a third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block.